Electric-circuit closer for railway-tracks.



No. 683,230. Patented Sept. 24, IBDI. F. SUCK.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FUR RAILWAY TRACKS.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRITZ SOCK, OF MAGDEBURG, GERMANT.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR RAILWAY-TRACKS.

SPEGIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,230, dated September 24, 1901.

Application filed February 25, 1901- $e1'lal1l'0. 48,720. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRITZ SOOK, a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at Magdeburg,Kingdom of Prussia,and German Empire, have invented a certain new and useful Electric-Circuit Closer for Railway-Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to means for operating an electric signal automatically from a moving railway-train, and it refers in particular to devices of that kind where the pressure upon a loose rail is employed for operating the circuit.

My invention is shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in Figure 1 in front view, and in Fig. 2 in part end View, part vertical section in natural size.

1 2 indicate a rail provided near each end with a bolt 3, capable of play within a plate 4, which forms one side of a casing. The rail 1 2 extends slightly above the tread of the trackrail A. The bolts 3 project through triangular-shaped apertures of the plate 4, so that the said bolts and the rail 1 2 are capable of vertical movement. An angular piece 5, rigidly secnred to the rail 1 2, is attached to the said bolts by pins passing through transverse holes in the said bolts or in any other suitable manner. Astout spring 6 presses against the middle of the angular piece 5 from the bottom and forces it upward, and thereby keeps the rail 1 2 in a somewhat raised position, the upper point of the triangular openings of the plate 4 serving as stops to the bolts 3. To the lower part 7 of the triangular piece 5 the guide-arm 8 and the contact-arm 9 are attaohed the latter being opposite the contact-spring 10, whichserves for the closing of the circuit.

Upon the block 11 at the lower part of the device is pivoted the cone-shaped piece 14, resting against aspring 13, the upper end of the cone 14 being placed directly below the end of the arm 8.

In the drawings the device is shown in its position of rest. When a car is moving on the tracks in the direction of the arrow, the end 2 of the rail 1 2 is depressed, the left bolt 3 forming the pivot. When the car has reached the middle of the rail, this part is also depressed and in turn also depresses the parts 9 and 8, the part 8sliding along the left side of the cone-shaped piece 14, which serves as a guide, the contact 9 10 remaining closed until the car has left the rail 1 2. In its normal position the |cone- 14 does not rotate about its pivot, its sides being utilized as guides; but in case the pressure upon the rail 1 2 should be such as to work downward in a straight vertical line the cone 14 will yield and be tilted against the tension of the spring 13, as the cone is so arranged with relation to the rail and to the triangular piece 5 that its upper point is out of line with the deadcenter of the system, the line of pressure usually forming an angle with the vertical line. If the car moves in the opposite direction, the point 8 moves along the right-hand side of the cone 14, the circuit remaining open; but it is obvious that I may also arrange to have the circuit closed at this side of the cone, as indicated in dotted lines in the drawings. One terminal of the battery or other source of electricity is grounded, its other terminal being connected to the alarmsignal 15 16 and to the contact-spring 10.

Mydevice shows the great advantage that the cardoes not only depress certain bars or bolts, which then actuate the circuit-closer by levers and joints, but the action is rendered much easierand simpler by the depression of a sprin g-supported rail,to which, as in the present invention, is imparted a kind of see-saw movement. This movement is due to the said rail being journaledin holes of sufficient clearance to allow of the displacement of the bolts 3 therein in various directions and to the use of a conically-shaped guide for the contact-piece 9 in connection with said rail.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A circuit-closer for railway-tracks, comprising the combination with a suitable support of a spring-supported rail and pins or bolts on such rail freely displaceable in any direction upon pressure from above within openings of the support, a conically-shaped guide to guide the rail in its movement, substantially as described.

2. A circuit-closer for railway-tracks, comprising the combination of a spring-supported rail, of a contact-piece connected thereto, a my name in the presence of two subscribing cQoperatingeOHtact and a pivoted conical witnesses. guide adapted to be engaged by the contactpiece,"said' guide being spring-pressed so as 5 to yield under pressure upon the middle of Witnesses:

the rail, substantially as described. HENRY HASPER,

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

FRITZ SOOK. 

